I've noticed a few posts on various threads about cravings and obsessive thinking - I am all too familiar with this myself.
In your experience, what does relieve this phenomena? Do they last a long time. Can they be magically removed from our minds by a higher power?
Love to hear your thoughts on this.
Idgie
Idgie, Here is a reading that I so relate to this time around:
No More Struggle....
And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone...even alcohol. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
"When AA found me, I thought I was in for a struggle, and that AA might provide the strength I needed to beat alcohol. Victorious in that fight, who knows what other battles I could win. I would need to be strong, though. All my previous experience with life proved that. Today I do not have to struggle or exert my will. If I take those Twelve Steps and let my Higher Power do the real work, my alcohol problem disappears all by itself. My living problems cease to be struggles. I just have to ask whether acceptance - or change - is required. It is not my will, but His, that needs doing."
Thankfully, by not running the show this time around, I no longer obsess or have cravings for alcohol. I relax and I do not struggle, I can finally take it easy.
No More Struggle....
And we have ceased fighting anything or anyone...even alcohol. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84
"When AA found me, I thought I was in for a struggle, and that AA might provide the strength I needed to beat alcohol. Victorious in that fight, who knows what other battles I could win. I would need to be strong, though. All my previous experience with life proved that. Today I do not have to struggle or exert my will. If I take those Twelve Steps and let my Higher Power do the real work, my alcohol problem disappears all by itself. My living problems cease to be struggles. I just have to ask whether acceptance - or change - is required. It is not my will, but His, that needs doing."
Thankfully, by not running the show this time around, I no longer obsess or have cravings for alcohol. I relax and I do not struggle, I can finally take it easy.
great words there...
You know I haven't felt a craving since Sunday - but I'm a little scared to trust that right now. Monday I was high on life after what happened sunday but then I got sick, so that's not a good barometer really.
The previous 13 days I was sober I had 1 day that I didn't crave at all - and it was so restful. The rest of the time it was my mind being obsessive.
Well I guess all I can do now is wait and see, take the actions I need to in my recovery, including a committment to meditation and prayer for the first hour of my day each day.
VWGirl - how is your sponsee doing? Is she still in the hospital?
You know I haven't felt a craving since Sunday - but I'm a little scared to trust that right now. Monday I was high on life after what happened sunday but then I got sick, so that's not a good barometer really.
The previous 13 days I was sober I had 1 day that I didn't crave at all - and it was so restful. The rest of the time it was my mind being obsessive.
Well I guess all I can do now is wait and see, take the actions I need to in my recovery, including a committment to meditation and prayer for the first hour of my day each day.
VWGirl - how is your sponsee doing? Is she still in the hospital?
Hey Idgie there was a telecom add when i got into recovery and the jingle was Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don't get caught with Mr inbetween. Now i used to sing this in my head literally hundreds of times a day. To me mr inbetween is my addictive thinking. And also i was brought up to think the worst of every situation. Hang in there and congradulate your self on all the good work you have done.
Light and love Zac
Light and love Zac
Hi there, Thanks for asking about my Sponsee, T....I visited her tonight and her speech has improved, her eyes looked clear and she had some clarity. In fact, she is no longer vehemently screaming that she won't go to sober living. She has resigned herself to that...there's a local house with a bed, it requires you attend a lot of meetings; and work, at least part time. She is very fortunate that she didn't come out of this thing completely paralyzed.
Oh VWGirl I'm so glad she's doing better - the poor child to torture herself so. I hope one day she is able to treat herself right and appreciate what a wonderful sponsor she has and what a wonderful person she is.
hey idgie- for 20 some years I've been playing this tape in my head over and over and over about the absolute destruction I can cause when drinking. Funny thing is, I got so used to the tape, I find there aren't the cravings like before. hmmmmmmm
Thanks Idgie....not so sure about my Sponsorship abilities, however I do know that I am just a conduit for God and my Sponsee is my teacher, just like I am hers. She is hearing the message little by little now, and she has willingness, she has hope, she's getting honest with everyone and just as importantly herself, and her mind is opening. She's ready again...thank God, the Girl is wearing me out! No, just kidding she is such a gift to me, such a blessing ~ she's helping me stay sober one day at a time.
Thanks Wonders - the only tape I'm playing right now is - how long till bedtime LOL.
I'm SOOOOOO tired. This gastro thing has knocked me for six. I start off the day ok and by half way through I'm exhausted. Last thing on my mind is a drink right now.
VWGirl - I'm sure you are an excellenct sponsor :) the fact your sponsee went on a binge is nothing to do with you, its all about her.
From what I've seen on the boards I think you'd make a great sponsor, you express tough love with tenderness. Very difficult to do. Just pray for guidance VWGirl to see if you and she are meant to continue on this journey together.
My sponsor told me the other night that the first time she saw me she was immediately struck by the strong sense that "this person is exactly where they need to be."
I had an equally strong sensation when I first saw her that she was someone I needed to have in my life right now. I never mentioned anythng about that too her. The very minute I saw her I was struck by the fact that she seemed to be glowing somehow. After spending time with her I believe that glow is her spirituality, her true self shining through her.
I'm SOOOOOO tired. This gastro thing has knocked me for six. I start off the day ok and by half way through I'm exhausted. Last thing on my mind is a drink right now.
VWGirl - I'm sure you are an excellenct sponsor :) the fact your sponsee went on a binge is nothing to do with you, its all about her.
From what I've seen on the boards I think you'd make a great sponsor, you express tough love with tenderness. Very difficult to do. Just pray for guidance VWGirl to see if you and she are meant to continue on this journey together.
My sponsor told me the other night that the first time she saw me she was immediately struck by the strong sense that "this person is exactly where they need to be."
I had an equally strong sensation when I first saw her that she was someone I needed to have in my life right now. I never mentioned anythng about that too her. The very minute I saw her I was struck by the fact that she seemed to be glowing somehow. After spending time with her I believe that glow is her spirituality, her true self shining through her.
Idgie, thank you for sharing that about you and your Sponsor, it was like that for me and my Sponsor too...when I met the young gal for the first time that I am sponsoring I had an affinity for her too...and she for me although she already had another Sponsor...then around November of last year she asked me to sponsor her and she was already thinking she might not be an alcoholic just a drug addict...well as I'm told and I am living proof of this fact, that an addict is an addict is an addict, whether in liquid form, powder form or pill form...however, she had to do a little more research out there and I certainly couldn't stop her, and come to find out she really is an alcoholic, well there is no question about it now...she is certain she is....normal drinkers don't get institutionalized for drinking. She is doing really good today, she's optimistic too! What a rapid change in just two weeks time...we held hands last night and said the Serenity prayer together when I left the hospital and we both just got goose bumps. What a gift...an amazing gift.
That's a great gift VWGirl. Baby steps!! Wow I truly hope this was her bottom and that she can reach out and grasp a sober/clean life for herself.
I'm taking a break here at work, it feels so good to be productive at work and not hungover. I get so much more down at work now, plus I actually enjoy my work - gotta tell you it feels good.
My H got drunk last night and I just thought wow, I'm glad I'm not going to be waking up with a hangover. I had no desire to even ask him for a glass of wine (which is my drink of choice ususally). It really felt good.
I'm taking a break here at work, it feels so good to be productive at work and not hungover. I get so much more down at work now, plus I actually enjoy my work - gotta tell you it feels good.
My H got drunk last night and I just thought wow, I'm glad I'm not going to be waking up with a hangover. I had no desire to even ask him for a glass of wine (which is my drink of choice ususally). It really felt good.
Hi Idgie, How goes it today (or tonight)? I'm going to see my Sponsee tonight, she is going to transition to a Sober Living home, close to my apt, well, it could be as early as tomorrow or within a week so...she will be sharing a room with 3 other girls and there are 16 girls total in the house. She will be required to get a job and will have to attend somewhere around 12 meetings a week. She will no longer be able to drive so she will have to depend on the members of AA to drive her around...but a lot of people do that so that is not a big deal. She can also get on the bus, or walk, that will be good for her stubborn, little butt ~ lol!
On another note, totally know what it is like to have an active alcoholic as a husband...I just couldn't stay sober, well neither one of us could when we were together, we just sabotaged each other. However, even if both of us would have got the Program early on, I don't think it would have saved the marriage...he really isn't someone that I enjoy being around. Go figure, I married him, but I was buzzed and high when I walked down the aisle, wheeeeeeeeeee!!!
I'm sure you've read this in the BB, but I love it, cause I absolutely would get the worst hangovers: "In exchange for a bottle and a hangover, we've been given the keys to the Kingdom..." ~ I'm so glad I was able to finally except those set of keys back on 22 November 2003.
On another note, totally know what it is like to have an active alcoholic as a husband...I just couldn't stay sober, well neither one of us could when we were together, we just sabotaged each other. However, even if both of us would have got the Program early on, I don't think it would have saved the marriage...he really isn't someone that I enjoy being around. Go figure, I married him, but I was buzzed and high when I walked down the aisle, wheeeeeeeeeee!!!
I'm sure you've read this in the BB, but I love it, cause I absolutely would get the worst hangovers: "In exchange for a bottle and a hangover, we've been given the keys to the Kingdom..." ~ I'm so glad I was able to finally except those set of keys back on 22 November 2003.
hey VWGirl - sounds like your sponsee has been given a great opportunity I hope she realises that and takes it to full advantage.
Your description of your walk down the aisle made me laugh. I don't think I was drunk doing that but I sure was blitzed by the end of the reception.
I don't think I can safely say much about my H right now. He's often a great guy but drinking turns him into an a**hole. How much is him and how much is me is hard to say.
I know I am in no fit state to be making any decisions about my relationship right now and that's about all I do know. So I'm just going to work my program fora while and try and stay off his case as much as possible. Easy to say and hard to do - but that's the plan.
Your description of your walk down the aisle made me laugh. I don't think I was drunk doing that but I sure was blitzed by the end of the reception.
I don't think I can safely say much about my H right now. He's often a great guy but drinking turns him into an a**hole. How much is him and how much is me is hard to say.
I know I am in no fit state to be making any decisions about my relationship right now and that's about all I do know. So I'm just going to work my program fora while and try and stay off his case as much as possible. Easy to say and hard to do - but that's the plan.
Hi Idg, You are doing so well...yep, I was told not to make any major changes in the first year of my sobriety. I had left my husband prior to me getting sober. In addition to that whirlwind of a booze fest and coke binge wedding...I went right into a blackout on my honeymoon night, don't remember any of it...and he still complains about the way things turned out that night when he has an opportunity to, which hasn't been much lately, because I am following direction and not engaging with him! Progress and growth for me and it feels so good!
